Statutes of Limitation

First of all, I'm not entirely sure that is the proper phrase - statutes of limitation.  But I was wondering, as I finished up a wallhanging that I started a very long time ago.  I began a patriotic wallhanging, a door hanging actually, decades ago.  All that remained to be completed was squaring it up and sewing the binding.  It is not one of my better pieces of work. The fabric was atrocious having mixed homespuns with quilting cotton, using directional prints inappropriately.  The points in the Ohio star didn't even come within waving distance.  It was a mess.  It was also one of the first things I ever made. I was young, didn't have a lot of experience, was trying out different techniques, a different pattern, and different fabrics.  It probably wasn't worth finishing/  It will look very nice on my front door - the mistakes will be nearly invisible when looking at the door hanging as a whole.  I supposed I could pick it apart and agonize over the wrong choices I made when constructing it but instead, I think I will just enjoy its beauty, imperfections and all.

That doorhanging kind of reminds me of people.  Lots of people make mistakes - some big and some small. Many mistakes are made when they are young, especially when they are teenagers. But like the doorhanging which developed into a beautiful decoration to enjoy, people tend to overcome some of their less stellar moments and actually evolve into beautiful human beings.  It is no fun to be reminded of the mistakes along the way. It's frustrating to try and try and be a positive force in the world only to be reminded of times when you weren't your best, when you were trying to fit in, trying to have friends with the only group of people who were willing to be your friends.

So what is the statute of limitations on a creation? I've forgiven myself for the blunders I made on that first project from years ago. Instead, I will enjoy the colors and the sentiments of its whole.